A review of research in the Interdisciplinary Environmental Review on single-use plastics argues that tackling the waste problem will require a shift from recycling alone to a broader circular economy approach, in which materials are kept in use through reuse, recovery, recycling, and redesign.
The researchers examined 336 research papers published over the decade 2015 to 2025. They then used bibliometric analysis, a kind of statistical pattern mapping, together with analysis of the content of studies, to follow the major themes in this area as well as the collaborations and research trends. They found that research into circular approaches to single-use plastics has grown rapidly since 2017. Recycling emerged as a dominant theme, while the literature also focused on plastic packaging, environmental impacts, and the effects of microplastics on human health.
The review identifies several factors that could determine whether circular systems will actually work in practice. These include public awareness and previous recycling behaviour, as well as policies such as green credit, which provides financial incentives for environmentally beneficial activity. There is an urgent need for effective reverse logistics to be put in place to allow used products and materials to be fed back into supply chains. There is also a need for better sorting, collection, and recovery of re-usable waste plastics.
Gupta, A., Kumar, D., Kaliyan, M. and Doreswamy (2026) ‘Waste to wealth for single-use plastics: a literature review and future research agenda’, Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp.259–292.
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